4 Potentially Dangerous Holiday Decorations

Holly Berries (Ilex species) are an iconic holiday decoration (it even has it’s own carol!) and is popular for its dark green leaves and bright red berries. However, eating these can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis and stupor. While the effects are likely to be mild, since the berries are quite bitter and usually aren’t eaten in large quantities, a sick child or pet could be an unpleasant holiday interruption. Keep them high up on mantles or bookshelves to avoid incident.

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Beth is a freelance writer and editor living in the Rocky Mountain West. So far, Beth has lived in or near three major U.S. mountain ranges, and is passionate about protecting the important ecosystems they represent. Follow Beth on Twitter as @ecosphericblog or check out her blog.

Tinsel is another dangerous decoration. Cats are especially vulnerable to this one since they love to chase shiny, string-y things. The tinsel can actually perforate the intestines so I'd suggest using a thick ribbon or perhaps bows to decorate the tree. Nancy P made an excellent point about being aware of what your guests are up to! They may unintentionally bring in a bouquet that has toxic plants/flowers or they may feed your pet or child something that isn't good for them (unknowingly of course), or they may just accidentally drop it on the carpet! Kind of makes me glad I'm not having any guests over this Christmas.